Love Releases Gifts
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. I Corinthians 13:1-13 (KJV)
Paul talks about charity, which in the Greek is agape, or the God kind of love. Everything we do should be flowing out from a heart of love. Love makes the difference.
When we bestow things on others, giving to them, we must give out of love for it to count for anything. When we pray in tongues, it should be be cause we love God and others. Then, we’ll see change in other’s lives. When love is our motive, there is profit in all we do. When it isn’t, there is no profit; it’s useless.
Love is patient and kind. We are to flow in the gifts of the Holy Spirit in love to bless God and others. Love never fails. Prophecy may fail- not because God fails, but because we may miss it due to the fact that we’re growing and our knowledge isn’t perfect yet. Tongues one day will cease when we see Jesus face-to-face. Supernatural knowledge shall vanish, but not yet. We still need to operate in the gift of the word of knowledge, with God giving us a word to minister to others. God, who knows all things, will give us a word of His knowledge to help someone else.
The gifts of the Holy Spirit found in I Corinthians 12 are still in use today and will be until we get to heaven. When Christ comes for His church, His bride, we will no longer need to use those gifts because we will be with Jesus in-person. Currently, our knowledge is in part, or limited, but God will still use us if we’re willing, obedient, and growing in Him.
Paul wraps up his discourse with faith, hope, and love- with the greatest being love. Faith and hope are desirable, but love is above them. Love God, others, and yourself. As we walk in love, we walk more like Jesus, and God will manifest His love and gifts to make Himself known. The more we walk in God’s love, the more we will see God operate through us to manifest Himself and demonstrate His love, and the gifts, and power of the Holy Spirit. More love equals more power released. We must operate out a heart of love to see Holy Spirit flow in and through us to allow others to see how much God loves us all.
